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Salvation for non-Christians? - 6/24/2008 3:45:28 PM
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c_smith1234
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What happens to a person's soul if they were never exposed to Christianity in any meaningful way? If someone tries to be the best family member/neighbor/friend to those around them, but grew up in a culture that taught another religion, or no religion? Basically, treating people the way Jesus would treat them, without actually knowing Jesus?
I'm having trouble accepting the strict interpretation of John 14:6. It just seems like it would only be right if everyone had enough exposure to Christian teaching to be reasonably accountable for their decision to accept Jesus or not, which a lot of people don't.
Thanks for any input.
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RE: Salvation for non-Christians? - 6/24/2008 5:36:08 PM
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FolkSingerBlues
Posts: 501
Joined: 1/11/2006
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You pose an interesting question.
It is one thing for someone to totally reject Jesus, but what about the one who does not know him.
I think there are some insights offered. For instance Romans 2:12-16.
The only real answer is that a just, loving, merciful God will judge them and that judgment will be whole, complete and correct.
The other side of this issue presents Christians with a task to complete the great commission. We should be eager to help ministries that are reaching out to all the world. At least to give them the oppurtunity to accept or reject Christ.
The real judgment will come on those of us who have done nothing to honor God in such a way as to spread the Good News.
_____________________________
My Blog
Proof texting is a very dangerous thing...If we were given the Scriptures it was to humble us into realizing God is right and the rest of us are just guessing.
-Rich Mullins
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RE: Salvation for non-Christians? - 6/24/2008 7:42:42 PM
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mvic
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Let's ask the question another way.
Who is more guilty in the eyes of God - the individual who has never heard of God (for a variety of reasons) or the Christian who did not bother to go out and tell others about God?
You don't have to go to a far off country to find someone who has never heard of God - look in your neighbourhood.
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MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Salvation for non-Christians? - 6/25/2008 11:16:21 AM
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PromiseLander
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"He who knew his master's will and disobeyed him shall be beaten with many stripes, but he who did not know his masters will and still disobeyed him shall be beaten with few stripes."
Those who are not Christians will be judged by what they did with the knowledge they had. There are varrying degrees of punishment. They do not go to hell because they did not believe in Jesus - they go to hell because they are sinners.
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RE: Salvation for non-Christians? - 6/27/2008 11:57:21 AM
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loveineffable
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quote:
ORIGINAL: c_smith1234
What happens to a person's soul if they were never exposed to Christianity in any meaningful way? If someone tries to be the best family member/neighbor/friend to those around them, but grew up in a culture that taught another religion, or no religion? Basically, treating people the way Jesus would treat them, without actually knowing Jesus?
I'm having trouble accepting the strict interpretation of John 14:6. It just seems like it would only be right if everyone had enough exposure to Christian teaching to be reasonably accountable for their decision to accept Jesus or not, which a lot of people don't.
Thanks for any input.
I believe Romans 1 explains, all will have had their chance for their epiphany, either they will believe or they will not. And there will be no excuse. For when whoever does not believe will know they were given clear opportunity to have changed their mind from unbelief to belief.
God is perfect, loving and merciful, in him is no evil whatsoever. So go and show your loving God to the world, giving others a chance to see the truth, we have a merciful God through Christ.
We do get trampled on, beat on, and so forth. Yet when God's love is returned inspite of how one gets treated, there is there chance to for true repentance.
When one goes down the road with another, and one continuously tries to put down the other, saying rude things, and treating one as dirt. The one being ridiculed has a choice to see the truth or not.
The one that usually would be in despair from this bad treatment, has not reacted that way at all.
Finally the one that did the mistreating asks the one why have you not reviled back at me?
The mistreated one asks a ? back. If someone offered you a gift and you did not take it, who's gift would it be? Amswer would be the one giving it, right. So the gift was recognized as not a good one, so the person trying to give it, had to keep it for the one that was to receive it did not take it, knowing it was a bad gift.
So go and discern as you go in this world, receive only the good gift from God and walk ye in it
ineffable love
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